Lights in the sky? It may not be an aurora but Steve

[{"selector":"#anim-f81fc634-8d6b-4040-952f-091f4bbd2e36","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-45055df5-0a65-4eb3-bfab-321a40d04fd9","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 168.72428%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4f7b3b73-9dba-4584-b94c-7752c67eadd3 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-43.823692771884396%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] Nature has a way of surprising us, and the recent sightings of green and purple lights in the northern skies have sparked curiosity.

[{"selector":"#anim-2dd62e69-412b-4740-a839-0de780dace6c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-eb9194a3-2c30-4a1c-83f9-0f1bb6172658","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 146.09612%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-59973ba8-07fb-468e-adf8-df751e3c4cfb [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-62.561432718780885%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] Initially assumed to be auroras, these vibrant ribbons are, in fact, a unique atmospheric phenomenon known as STEVE, or Strong Thermal Emission Velocity Enhancement.

[{"selector":"#anim-f9f2697a-91b9-415e-a4a8-1c6b4197376c","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(-540deg) scale(0.1)","none"],"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"fill":"both","iterations":1}] [{"selector":"#anim-5abcdd3e-768d-416a-bff3-3ed1767302de","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-120.61856%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.2, 0, .8, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8734efa4-2e7f-44f9-b5e6-bab9128a152b","keyframes":{"transform":["rotateZ(-180deg)","rotateZ(0deg)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.2, 0, .5, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f82b33f8-27dc-428f-b791-27a989644162 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(57.74999943196485%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] STEVE is an optical phenomenon characterized by a distinctive purple and green light ribbon in the sky. What is STEVE?

[{"selector":"#anim-95d41aa1-98b8-4040-974d-af1a4a163735","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-120.61856%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.2, 0, .8, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d44411b2-0f07-4463-be2c-3ecd753e4eed","keyframes":{"transform":["rotateZ(-180deg)","rotateZ(0deg)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.2, 0, .5, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d32d6a6c-a849-4a14-9277-11f1f87b375d [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-61.437499766004244%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] Named in 2016 by aurora enthusiasts in Alberta, Canada, it has gained attention for its unusual appearance.

[{"selector":"#anim-c8a91f8a-e8dc-4296-ae34-7920e0a55b3a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2a97774a-28bb-4ee5-bd71-822d471198dd","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(111.78344%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5cac1eb8-db47-4dca-8003-e4917dbc2f09","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(-540deg) scale(0.1)","none"],"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"fill":"both","iterations":1}] [{"selector":"#anim-8a60da22-59c1-48fa-a59e-0d0026220555 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(63.56396430685799%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] Appearance: STEVE manifests as a narrow arc extending for hundreds or thousands of miles, aligned east-west, and typically lasts for 20 minutes to an hour. Distinctive Features

[{"selector":"#anim-86b97dae-2704-4aa8-9d87-f79516d190af","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-eb8ef590-b6c6-4810-84aa-90291897a6bd","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(111.78344%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e41d4fbe-9ff6-4ac8-b796-b7f985dd41fa","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(-540deg) scale(0.1)","none"],"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"fill":"both","iterations":1}] [{"selector":"#anim-b8959ee7-1c1d-4601-83ce-af32c8834db5 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-34.92577487519089%, 0, 0) translate(13.235294117647056%, 9.926471040677656%) scale(0.7352941176470589)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] Color Palette: The phenomenon exhibits striking hues of purple and green, standing out against the night sky. Distinctive Features

[{"selector":"#anim-d232c199-41c0-4efe-9bbe-68405885d700","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-07adca1c-15ea-4d81-8322-b5047a1e2713","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.28663%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7e5d953c-e65c-4dfe-b442-ef55b51e8e96","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(-540deg) scale(0.1)","none"],"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"fill":"both","iterations":1}] [{"selector":"#anim-b51c77a3-11f3-4817-9ee3-e76b64cf5af6 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(46.196289041260066%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Location: Initially observed in Canada, STEVE has been sighted in various locations, including the United Kingdom, the northern United States, Alaska, Australia, and New Zealand. Distinctive Features

[{"selector":"#anim-ed606949-f65c-4bc3-843b-a1acff411eba","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e48d0d07-fdda-459d-8381-d2c28cbc2a5a","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.60510%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ce0fa66e-2d4a-4ba5-a948-777f48bd5d9d","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(-540deg) scale(0.1)","none"],"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"fill":"both","iterations":1}] [{"selector":"#anim-e93c6876-5503-4c0d-af32-9f8e4411891a [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-70.27743308671653%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] Contrary to traditional auroras, STEVE is not a typical aurora borealis. Instead, it is associated with a fast-moving stream of extremely hot particles called a sub-auroral ion drift (SAID). Scientific Insight

[{"selector":"#anim-62d3492a-d00d-45de-b7fc-8568c20454de","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e1e10dfc-3335-4352-9ceb-49e5ce220d87","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(139.49579%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e460afe1-95b4-417f-a443-9f88c0e0fb61","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(-540deg) scale(0.1)","none"],"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"fill":"both","iterations":1}] [{"selector":"#anim-f5873430-f130-4226-a9e3-0662e1285ddb [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(64.42626931523556%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] This unique characteristic sets it apart from conventional auroras. Scientific Insight